Narcolepsy

Medical Author: Roza Hayduk, MD
Medical Editor: Leslie J. Schoenfield, MD, PhD

• What is narcolepsy?
• How common is narcolepsy?
• What causes narcolepsy?
• What are the symptoms of narcolepsy?
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS)
  • Cataplexy
  • Hypnagogic hallucinations
  • Sleep paralysis
  • Additional symptoms
• How is narcolepsy diagnosed?
• How is narcolepsy treated?
  • Medications
  • Non-drug treatments
• What is the outcome (prognosis) for patients with narcolepsy?
• What's in the future for narcolepsy?
• Narcolepsy At A Glance
• Related narcolepsy articles:
  Narcolepsy - on WebMD

What is narcolepsy?

Narcolepsy is a chronic (long lasting) disease of the brain (central nervous system). Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the main symptom and is present in 100% of patients with narcolepsy. The other primary symptoms of narcolepsy include loss of muscle tone (cataplexy), distorted perceptions (hypnagogic hallucinations), and inability to move or talk (sleep paralysis). Additional symptoms include disturbed nocturnal sleep and automatic behavior. All of the symptoms of narcolepsy may be present in various combinations and degrees of severity.

Narcolepsy begins (has its onset) usually in teenagers or young adults and affects both sexes equally. The first symptom to appear is EDS, which may remain unrecognized for a long time in that it develops gradually over time. The other symptoms can follow EDS by months or years.

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